Ventilator for silos, cribs, or the like



Dec. 30, 1941. F. H. ANDERSON VENTILATOR FOR SILOS, CRIBS, OR THE LIKE Filed Sept. 18, 1939 IN V EN TOR.

BY E H- HNDEHEEIN Patented Dec. 30, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Frank H. Anderson, Des Moines, Iowa, assignor to New Monarch Machine & Stamping 00., Des

Moines, Iowa Application September 18, 1939, Serial No. 295,447

2 Claims.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a ventilator for silos, cribs, or the like which may be incorporated in ordinary silo construction in conjunction with other types of materials, such as concrete slabs, or the like for thoroughly ventilating the ensilage, grain, or other contents of the silo or crib.

A further object of this invention is to provide a ventilator for silos, cribs, or the like, which interacts with other units to provide a tightly constructed, and efiicient storage compartment with adequate ventilation and embodying great inherent strength.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a ventilator unit for silos, cribs, or the like that is versatile in its adaptation to various types and shapes of structures.

A still further object of this invention is toprovide a ventilator unit for silos, cribs, or the like that is versatile in its adaptation to various types and shapes of structures.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a ventilator unit for silos, cribs, or the like that is extremely economical in manufactur durable, and emcient in use. I

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various integral and component parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth,r pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a portion of a silo, crib, or other storage bin with my ventilator units incorporated therein.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front end view of my ventilator units when they are used alone and interlocked with each other.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged top view of one my ventilator units imposed between two concrete slabs or staves.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged top plan view of an alternate type of structure of my ventilator unit where it is desired that the side walls be flush with the outside contours of the crib or other storage compartment.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged top elevational view of one of my ventilator units showing the method of providing a certain amount of resiliency in the wall portions of the ventilator unit.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of portions of two of my ventilator units, showing the method of interlocking the same vertically when they are used in conjunction with each other and is taken on the line 5-6 of Fig. 2.

Heretofore, it has been the usual practice to either dispense with the major portion of ventilation in silos, cribs, or the like, or to use either concrete, having holes cut therethrough, or wooden staves spaced at intervals to obtain ventilation. Both of these methods are unsatisfactory in that they are not flexible and cannot be changed or altered to obtain the maximum efficiency for the accommodation of various types of materials, such as grains or stock feeds, contained within the silo or crib. Furthermore, dirt, snow, moisture, and other foreign accumulations could enter the horizontal slots, thereby destroying some of the products being stored within the compartment. Also these various types of cribs and silos were designed for but one type of grain or the like. This prevents the transfer of grain from one crib to another, or the interchangeability of storage compartments relative to the products contained therein. Furthermore, these structures have been costly and difiicult to erect, thereby eliminating a ready market for such structures. I have overcome such difliculties as will be hereinafter set forth.

Referring to the drawing, I have used the numeral ID to indicate a fiat sheet member of metal or the like. This sheet member has formed, therein, a series of louvered openings H for permitting air to circulate through the metallic sheet member In to the inside of a crib or the like. The numeral [2 designates a side rail extending along one of the marginal edges of the sheet member In and being bent forwardly on an arc, and thence rearwardly to form a concave sill or side wall as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing. Similarly the numeral l3 indicates a side rail extending parallel to the side rail l2 and on the opposite marginal edge of the sheet member ID. This rail I3 is also formed from the sheet member |0, is bent forwardly and thence rearwardly on an arc, as shown in the drawing, for forming a convex sill or side wall.

This structure is very important, and it will here be noted that the outside or forward edge of each of the side rails, I 2 and I3, are turned edges, thereby giving more resistance to this railing edge when a load is imposed on the rearward side of the ventilator, and will also aid in preventing the rusting or other disfigurement of these forward edges of the rails 12 and I3. It will also be noted, by reference to Fig. 5, that a gap can be left between the forwardly extending positions of the rails l2 and I3, and the lation of the product being stored with respect to its volume of the crib or silo. The slot formed under each of the louvers is narrow enough to prevent rodents from entering the completed crib, and will prevent the contents from falling there-through.

My unit thus far described, may be used successfully in conjunction with the ordinary type of concrete staves of rectangular shape, having one of their longer marginal edges rounded concavely and their opposite marginal edges formed convexly and. in exact relation to my ventilator. These staves are generally longer than are my ventilating units, and may be spaced so as to overlap for a substantial distance, as shown in Fig. l of the drawing. These concrete staves I have designated by the numeral l4, and the complete silo, crib, or like is built up of alternate overlapping sections of concrete staves, and any of myventilator units, and if the structure being constructed is a silo, the'ordinary bands l5 are placed about the structure and tightened. By.

having the concrete staves M of longer dimensions than my ventilating units, the tightening bands l5 touch only the concrete portion of the silo, providing a rigid and substantial structure.v It will also be noted, by reference to Fig. 4, that the sheet member I0 may be in a plane substantially even with the outside ofthe ventilator unit, and the side rails, l2 and I3, bent and formed so that the plates ill will be flush with the outside surface of the crib or like structure.

This feature is desirable in some instances and.

when certain types of structures are erected. using my ventilator unit.

When it is desired to construct a crib, silo, or

the like from successive sections or entirely of my ventilator units, they may be interlocked in the manner shown in Figs. 2 and 6 of the drawing. The flat portion of the sheet member Ii! has formed thereon, a shoulder l6 extending downwardly beyond the lower marginal confines of'the rails lZ-and I3. A plate i1 is then. spot-v welded, or otherwise secured to the rearward surface of the sheet member In, thereby forming a receiving groove, capable of receiving the upper or opposite marginal edge of the next succeeding lower section or ventilator. By this structure the ventilators are locked together, and by p1acing the successive ventilator units at either side of the base units, a rigid assembly is obtained,

structure may be made up of interlocking units;

of my ventilator. Due to the convex and concave sidewall portions of my ventilator, it is adaptable to any shape or contour, and may be used in rectangular structures, round structures, oc-

tagonal structures, and in fact, any shape or size of structure that may be desired. Also it is obviously easy to extend the size; either vertically or horizontally by the use of additional units.

Obviously if a silo or a crib is made up of my units, and it is desired, at times, to store small grain such as shelled corn, oats, wheat, or the like within the crib, the louvered slots may be closed. It will be noted that I have extended my louvers outwardly, providing a flat portion at the'rear, over which may be placed building paper, a sheet of metallic material, or the like when using a crib constructed of my ventilating units for the storage of small grain or the like not needing ventilation.

Thus, .it willbe seen that I have provided a ventilator for silos, cribs, or the like, which fulfills all 0f,my' objects as extremely economical to manufacture and to assemble into a completed structure, is versatile in its adaptation to varying structures andto suitable conditions, which provides adequate ventilation, and which may be used in conjunction with any structure as an additional means of ventilation for the inside of the structure.

The side rail portions l2 and 13 may be hereinafter referred toas side rail portions, interlocking means or flanges.

Some changes may be made in the construction, and arrangementof my improved ventilator for silos, cribs, or the like without departing from the real spirit and'purpose' of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim: i

1. In a device of the class described, a metallic sheet member having openings therein, a rail member formed along'one of the'marginal edges of said sheet member; said rail member extending first forwardly and then rearwardly on an arc to form a convex'side raiLand a second side rail formed on the marginal edge of said sheet member opposite from and parallel to said first mentioned rail; said second mentioned rail being formed by bending said sheet member first forwardlyand thence rearwardly to-form a concave side rail.

2. In a device of theclass described, a sheet member having louvered openings therein, a convex side rail formed along one of the marginal edges of said fiat sheet member; said convex side rail being formed by bending said flat sheet member forwardly and inwardly and thence rearwardly inspaced relationship to said forwardly and inwardly extending portion for providing resiliency in said convex side rail, and a concave side rail ,for med .onthe opposite marginal edge ofsaid flat-sheet member parallel to said convex sidev rail; said concave-side rail being formed by.

I FRANK .ANDEasoN. 

